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Do you have a friend who has a quick temper? Would you say that he or she has a low boiling point? Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are the same way in that they easily make phase changes due to low boiling points (i.e. less than 250o C). As for the organic part, all organic compounds contain the element Carbon, along with Hydrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Sulfur and/or Nitrogen.
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One of the most important things about the volatility, or easy reactions of VOCs, is that it allows for the formation of ozone when VOCs mix with nitrogen oxide. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms bound into a molecule with the chemical formula O3. Oxygen usually consists of two oxygen atoms bound into a molecule with the chemical formula O2. Ozone is great up in the troposphere, where it can protect us from harmful UV radiation, but when ozone is produced by mixing VOCs with nitrogen oxide in the air, it becomes quite harmful to all life forms.
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Many volatile organic compounds are hazardous in vapor form. VOCs may be released from various types of burning fuel, such as gasoline, kerosene, wood, coal and natural gas. These can be in the form of emissions from industrial production facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicles, gasoline vapors or chemical solvents. Many common VOCs may be released from paints, glues and solvents that you could find at home and at work.
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Ozone pollution is of special concern during the warm summer months because the combination of sunlight and hot weather results in harmful ozone concentrations in the air we breathe. Long-term exposure to VOCs can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and the central nervous system, while short-term exposure may cause respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, irritation of the eyes and vision issues, fatigue, loss of coordination, skin allergies, nausea and memory impairment.
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Ozone pollution can cause respiratory issues in humans, including worsening of pre-existing respiratory issues via production of scar tissue in the lungs with long-term exposure. Ozone is detrimental to the environment because it affects the amount of usable oxygen in the atmosphere, causing smog and contributing to climate change. Ozone contributes to climate change by decreasing the air quality and stunting the growth of terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) plants.
Climate Change creates conditions such as heat and stagnant air that are known to increase the level of unhealthful ozone levels. The more greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are released into the environment via emissions from power plants, manufacturing plants, motor vehicles and other sources, the more ground-level ozone, or smog, is formed. Climate change will likely increase ozone levels in large parts of the United States. Further, these changes will increase the risk of drought, dust storms and wildfires, which are known to increase high particle pollution as well. Therefore, action must be taken to try and reduce VOCs in our environments, both inside and outside.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals (containing Carbon) that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. This high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which allows their molecules to evaporate from liquid to gas phase, a characteristic known as volatility. Volatility means that the phase changes, and then there's a spillage of pressure into the surrounding environment. For example, formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint, has a boiling point of only -19o C (-2o F).
These VOCs tend to evaporate and spill themselves into the local environment, pouring over into and enjoining with other mutable compounds, forming ground-level ozone. Ozone is great up in the troposphere, where it can protect us from harmful UV radiation, but when ozone is produced by mixing VOCs with nitrogen oxide in the air, it becomes quite harmful to all life forms.
We shared a list of VOC chemicals that are common anthropogenic (man-made) pollutants, which are also regulated by various world governments, including the U.S. The goal is to decrease the processes and uses of VOCs and, in turn, decrease other particulate pollutants in our environment. Additionally, greenhouse gases(GHGs) add to these issues, along with the temperature increases that result in climate changes. So, it is desirable, in increasing air quality, to try to decrease fossil fuel emissions, VOCs, and greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow climate change.
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